Ministry of Foreign Affairs (North Korea)

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea

조선민주주의인민공화국 외무성
Agency overview
Formed	September 9, 1948 (1948-09-09)
Type	Government Ministry
Jurisdiction	Government of North Korea
Headquarters	Pyongyang, North Korea
Minister responsible	Choe Son-hui, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Parent agency	Cabinet
Child agency	Diplomatic missions of North Korea
Website	www.mfa.gov.kp

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is the government ministry of North Korea, responsible for conducting foreign relations of the country. The Minister of Foreign Affairs is in charge of the ministry.

History

The Ministry was established in 1948. ^[1]

In May 2024, after Kim Jong Un called for large changes in North Korea's reunification policy, Daily NK reported that the Ministry was given responsibilities for handling relations with South Korea, taking those responsibilities from the United Front Department. ^[2]

Organization

In addition to the foreign minister, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has a First Vice Minister and seven other vice ministers. ^[3] The current First Vice Minister is Kim Kye-gwan. The other vice ministers include Choe Son-hui, Han Song-ryol, ^[4] and Choe Hui-chol. ^[5]

The Ministry includes an organization called the Institute for American Studies. ^[6]

List of office holders

The following is a list of foreign ministers of North Korea since its founding in 1948: ^[1]

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Head of state	Premier
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
1		Pak Hon-yong 박헌영 (1900–1955)	9 September 1948	3 March 1953	4 years, 5 months	Kim Tu-bong	Kim Il Sung
2		General Nam Il 남일 (1915–1976)	3 March 1953	23 October 1959	6 years, 7 months	Kim Tu-bong Choe Yong-gon
3		Pak Song-chol 박성철 (1913–2008)	23 October 1959	1 July 1970	10 years, 8 months	Choe Yong-gon
4		Ho Dam 허담 (1929–1991)	1 July 1970	1 December 1983	13 years, 5 months	Choe Yong-gon Kim Il Sung	Kim Il Sung Kim Il Pak Song-chol Ri Jong-ok
5		Kim Yong-nam 김영남 (born 1928)	1 December 1983	5 September 1998	14 years, 9 months	Kim Il Sung Office vacant	Ri Jong-ok Kang Song-san Ri Kun-mo Yon Hyong-muk Kang Song-san Hong Song-nam (acting)
6		Paek Nam-sun 백남순 (1929–2007)	5 September 1998	2 January 2007	8 years, 3 months	Kim Yong-nam	Hong Song-nam Pak Pong-ju
—		Kang Sok-ju 강석주 (1939–2016) Acting	3 January 2007	18 May 2007	4 months		Pak Pong-ju Kim Yong-il
7		Pak Ui-chun 박의춘 (born 1932)	18 May 2007	9 April 2014	6 years, 10 months	Kim Yong-nam Kim Jong Il Office vacant Kim Jong Un	Kim Yong-il Choe Yong-rim Pak Pong-ju
8		Ri Su-yong 리수용 (born 1940)	9 April 2014	9 May 2016	2 years, 1 month	Kim Jong Un	Pak Pong-ju
9		Ri Yong-ho 리용호 (born 1956)	13 May 2016	18 January 2020	3 years, 8 months		Pak Pong-ju Kim Jae-ryong
10		Ri Son-gwon 리선권	21 January 2020	11 June 2022	2 years, 141 days		Kim Jae-ryong Kim Tok-hun
11		Choe Son-hui 최선희 (born 1964)	11 June 2022	Incumbent	2 years, 257 days		Kim Tok-hun Pak Thae-song

Timeline

See also

• List of diplomatic missions of North Korea
• List of diplomatic missions in North Korea

References

1. "Foreign ministers E-K". rulers.org. B. Schemmel. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
2. Mun, Dong Hui (29 March 2024). "N. Korea shifts United Front Department roles to foreign ministry, military". Daily NK . Retrieved 10 October 2024.
3. "Choe Son-hui, N.K. diplomat on U.S. affairs, promoted to vice minister". Yonhap. 8 March 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
4. Hotham, Oliver (27 February 2018). "Choe Son Hui promoted to vice-minister at DPRK foreign ministry: sources". NK News . Retrieved 16 May 2018.
5. "FM Delegation Leaves for Singapore". Rodong Sinmun . 2 April 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
6. Smith, Josh (10 July 2019). Perry, Michael (ed.). "North Korea calls South Korea's F-35 jet purchases 'extremely dangerous action'". Reuters. Archived from the original on 11 July 2019.

External links

• Official website